This is me as a journalist of the Railway Carriage Builder newspaper, interviewing Yuriy Dymanta, chief designer of the Riga carriage building factory. This photo was taken in Riga in 1960.
In 1946 I entered the Philological Faculty of Riga University. I entered the department of journalism. Perhaps, the fact that I was a veteran of the war, helped me to avoid any problems. I passed my exams and was admitted. There were other Jews in my group, and the attitude toward us was just common.
In 1951 I graduated and received the diploma of a journalist. Jewish graduates faced evident anti-Semitism during the process of distribution of job assignments. We were the best students through the entire period of our studies, but none of us received a job appointment to a major newspaper. Our jobs were in factory newspapers or in smaller editors' offices. I joined the party at the University. I wouldn't say I was driven by career considerations. After evacuation and my work in the hospital I had patriotic feelings. I believed that communists were to lead the initiative of restoration of the country ruined by the war. Actually, I was not alone. After the war we were already Soviet people and practiced the Soviet ideology. Before we received our job assignments I was invited to the town party committee. They told me that the radio committee had a vacancy of a journalist, with fluent Russian and Latvian, a party member, and that I met these requirements. Then the party instructor asked me who I was. I repeated my name and told him that I was a party member and a war veteran. He repeated the question and asked me about my nationality. I said I was a Jew, and he said he thought I was Polish. He apologized for having bothered me, and this was clear and unambiguous. I was assigned to the Railroad builder industrial newspaper where I worked till I retired. I got along well with other employees, and my management was quite satisfied with my performance. In truth, many Jews realized they had their own place in life and to avoid problems, they had to be quiet and take their share. I would say this briefly: everybody must know one's place. Following this rule one could avoid potential problems.
